S) "16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NASB)
O) Nothing else matters, because we don't have to spend eternity in hell. When we repent and submit our lives to Jesus as our Lord, we are forgiven and His grace allows us to go to heaven. Keeping our minds on that is elemental to peace and paramount to thankfulness. You may be underpaid and overworked, but at least you don't have to go to hell. You may not get along with your siblings, but at least you don't have to go to hell. Your kids may drive you crazy, but at least you don't have to go to hell. Your car may not start, but at least you don't have to go to hell. You have have a bare pantry, but at least you don't have to go to hell... nothing else matters, because we don't have to spend eternity in hell.
A) I have a sticky not on the bottom of my computer monitor at work that says, "Eternal > Temporal" and it serves as a pretty good reminder of this passage. Taking it a step beyond worry, or stress, though, I need to keep this concept in mind regarding where I spend my time and energy. It's easy to get distracted with really trivial things. I don't think there's any problem relaxing with a game, or watching some TV, but when there are so many better ways to invest my time... It's all about the constant effort to prioritize and reorganize my life. I like videogames because it's fun to fight bad guys, but I can't forget that there's a real battle going on with eternal implications.
P) Father, I don't want to waste my life. Help me prioritize my energy and refocus myself on the things that are truly important. Holy Spirit, remind me of the real struggles that I face. Help me see past the facade of this dying world around me to see the truly important things. Help me focus on fighting for the lives of those around me. I know that we don't battle against flesh and blood; according to Ephesians 6, our fight is one that is faught through prayer, and fasting, exposing lies to the light, and bringing healing to the broken-hearted... I don't want to become lazy, and I don't want to become blind. Let me stay enlisted in active duty, God. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
A) I have a sticky not on the bottom of my computer monitor at work that says, "Eternal > Temporal" and it serves as a pretty good reminder of this passage. Taking it a step beyond worry, or stress, though, I need to keep this concept in mind regarding where I spend my time and energy. It's easy to get distracted with really trivial things. I don't think there's any problem relaxing with a game, or watching some TV, but when there are so many better ways to invest my time... It's all about the constant effort to prioritize and reorganize my life. I like videogames because it's fun to fight bad guys, but I can't forget that there's a real battle going on with eternal implications.
P) Father, I don't want to waste my life. Help me prioritize my energy and refocus myself on the things that are truly important. Holy Spirit, remind me of the real struggles that I face. Help me see past the facade of this dying world around me to see the truly important things. Help me focus on fighting for the lives of those around me. I know that we don't battle against flesh and blood; according to Ephesians 6, our fight is one that is faught through prayer, and fasting, exposing lies to the light, and bringing healing to the broken-hearted... I don't want to become lazy, and I don't want to become blind. Let me stay enlisted in active duty, God. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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